Surgical instrument support device

ABSTRACT

A device for supporting surgical instruments comprises a base and a support member which are releasably interconnected by telescopic posts. The support member is provided with a plurality of supporting pins which support apertured surgical blades. The entire device, with instruments supported thereon, may be placed in a sterilizing jar or container containing a sterilization fluid and may be readily removed therefrom as desired.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George Alfred Montelius 2405 Eucluid Place, Minneapolis, Minn. 55405 [21] Appl. No. 839,566

22 Filed July 7, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [54] SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT DEVICE 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. (I 211/166 [51] Int. Cl A471 5/02 [50] Field ofSearch.... 211/163,

166,57-59, 77, 165, 53,56, 70,78,95, 115, 129, 131, 139, 144, 60G, 60 M, 60T, 60R, 67-691; 248/1885, 161; 287/58 CT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,381 6/1913 Martin 211/65 8/1942 Vevirit 211/60 M 978,670 12/1910 Solomon 211/163 1,729,004 9/1929 Miadowicz. 211/163 X 2,595,837 5/1952 Freeman 211/166 X 2,639,820 5/1953 Lee 211/163 2,946,456 7/1960 Liguori 211/77 3,283,913 11/1966 Van Horn 211/78 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorneys-Williamson, Palmatier and Bains, George F.

Williamson, 1-1. Dale Palmatier and Herman H. Bains ABSTRACT: A device for supporting surgical instruments comprises a base and a support member which are releasably interconnected by telescopic posts. The support member is provided with a plurality of supporting pins which support apertured surgical blades. The entire device, with instruments supported thereon, may be placed in a sterilizing jar or container containing a sterilization fluid and may be readily removed therefrom as desired.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a support device, of simple and inexpensive construction, for use in supporting a plurality of surgical instruments in a manner to permit ready removal of the instruments from the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for supporting surgical instruments which includes a base and a support member which are interconnected by telescopic posts so that the spacing between the base and support member may be readily adjusted to accommodate surgical instruments of different lengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for supporting surgical instruments which includes a plurality of pins secured to'the support member for suspending therefrom a plurality of apertured surgical blades, and the entire device with instruments mounted thereon being positionable within a sterilizing receptacle and being removable as a unit therefrom.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the device with certain portions thereof broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a supporting element, identification tab and apertured blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that one embodiment of the novel surgical support device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is thereshown. This entire device is preferably made of stainless steel and is adapted to be positioned within a receptacle such as the sterilizing jar or container C, which is adapted to contain sterilizing fluid. The support device includes a base 11 which is of circular configuration and which has a plurality of foot elements 12 affixed to the lower surface thereof. These foot elements 12 have a relatively small vertical dimension to thereby minimize any tendency of tipping or tilting of the support device 10.

The upper surface of the base 11 has a plurality of recesses 13 therein which receive the lower end of surgical instruments mounted on the device. An elongate cylindrical post 14 is affixed to the center of the base 11 and projects upwardly from the upper surface thereof. In the embodiment shown, the post 14 has a hollow interior or bore 15 therein which extends from the upper end thereof but does not extend completely through the post. However, the bore 15 extends through the major length of the post and is disposed in coaxial relation with respect to the base 11.

The support device 10 also includes a support member 16 i which is of circular configuration and is of substantially the same size as the base 1 1. The support member 16 has a post 17 projecting axially therethrough and through an embossedelement l8 affixed to the upper surface of the support member. It will be noted that the post 17 projects axially from opposite sides of the support member 16 and the upper end portion of the post has a handle 19 integrally formed therewith.

The lower end portion of the post 17 is telescopically received within the post 14 of the base 11. When the post-17 is telescoped completely within the post 14, the support member 16 will be positioned in engaging relation with the upper edges of the post 14. Means are provided for adjusting the position of the post 17 with respect to the post 14 so that the space in between the support member 16 and the base 11 may be vari- 20 which is provided with a threaded element 21 which projects at substantially right angles therefrom. The locking lever 20 projects into and threadedly engages a threaded opening 22 in the post 14. With this arrangement, the end of the threaded element 22 is urged into and out of frictional engagement with the post 11 to lock the same in an adjusted elevated position. Thus the locking lever is pivotal between a locking position and a release position to permit vertical adjustment of the post 17 with respect to the post 14. The support member 16 may also be revolved relative to the base 11 when the locking lever 20 is in the release position.

The support member 16 has a plurality of openings 23 which may be aligned in registering relation with respect to the recesses 13 in the base 11. These openings may vary in size as shown and are adapted to permit the passage of surgical instruments such as scalpel handles and the like therethrough. The support member 16 also has a plurality of openings 24 which are of noncircular configuration and which are located inwardly of the circumferentially arranged openings 23. The openings 24 are of a size to accommodate forceps, surgical scissors and the like therethrough.

The support member 16 also has a plurality of outwardly and upwardly projecting pins 25 integrally formed with the outer peripheral edge thereof and projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom. These pins are arranged throughout the circumference of the support member and each is adapted to suspend a surgical blade 26 therefrom. In this regard, it will be noted that each surgical blade 26 has an opening 27 therein through which projects a pin 25. Surgical blades 26 are of the type which are releasably connectable to an instrument handle in the manner of disengageable handle and blades disclosed in my 0.8. Design Pat. No. 207,937.

In order to facilitate identification of the blades, a plurality of metal identification plates or tabs 28 are provided, each being associated with one of the pins 25. Each plate 28 may have an indicia 29 affixed to the upper surface thereof and the indicia may be a number denoting size or some other identifying indicia. Each identifying plate has a depending portion 30 integrally formed therewith and disposed at right angles thereto and being provided with an aperture 31 therein. Each plate 28 is positioned upon the upper surface of the support member 16 so that each associated pin 25 projects through an aperture 31. The depending portion 30 is positioned against the peripheral edge of the support member to thereby secure each plate 28 against movement. It will therefore be seen that with this arrangement, each blade is readily identifiable from above by a user.

In use, the support device 10 will be placed in a container C which contains a predetermined amount of sterilizing liquid so that the instruments are maintained in a sterile condition. The entire device may be readily removed from the container by gripping the handle 19 and physically lifting the device with the instruments mounted thereon. Handle 19 may be of any desirable configuration and since the post 17 will be releasably locked to the post 14, the entire device may be removed as a unit from the container. The device may be placed upon any suitable support such as a table and the locking lever 20 may then be shifted to the release position. The support member 16 may then be elevated and locked at an adjusted elevated position or may be revolved relative to the base 11 as desired. By providing a support device which may be vertically ad- 5 justed as well as being revolvable relative to a base, not only ously adjusted. This means includes an elongate locking lever ments.

This instrument dispenser or support can also be used to dispense sterilized razors, combs, scissors and other instruments used by barbers and will, therefore, fine utilities for use in barber shops. Manicurists instruments may also be maintained in a sterile condition through the use of this present device. in this regard, the present dispenser or support may be used to contain combs, scissors and other tools used in beauty salons. it is also thought that chiropodists who use a number of medical instruments could use the present dispenser or support to advantage.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing paragraphs that l have provided an instrument support device, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for supporting a plurality of medical instruments comprises a substantially flat circular baseplate member,

an upstanding post on said base at the center thereof and projecting upwardly and axially therefrom,

a substantially flat circular support plate member being of substantially the same size as said base, said support member having a plurality of symmetrical openings therein spaced inwardly from the circumferential edge thereof, and axis of each opening being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said support member, each opening accommodating an end portion of an instrument therethrough, the other end portion of the instrument being positioned upon the baseplate,

a centrally located second post fixedly connected with said support member and extending axially in opposite directions therefrom, the upper end of said second post projecting substantially beyond said support member and defining a handle, one end portion of one of said posts having an elongate hollow bore therein of circular configuration, one end portion of the other post being telescopically received in said bore and being circular in cross-sectional configuration to permit relative rotation and vertical adjustment between said posts,

means on one of said posts releasably engaging the other of said posts to permit posts to be releasably locked in an adjusted position,

a plurality of outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced-apart similar supporting elements secured to the circumferential edge of said support member throughout the periphery thereof and each adapted to support an apertured instrument blade therefrom, the cross-sectional size of each of said support plate and baseplate members having a cross-sectional size and a vertical spacing therebetween whereby the entire device may be positioned within a conventional sterilizing container containing a sterilizing fluid so that apertured instrument blades on the supporting elements and instruments projecting through the openings in the support member will be sterilized, each of said supporting elements projecting outwardly and upwardly from the support plate member, a plurality of identification plates positioned upon the support member and each including a depending portion depending therefrom in right angular relation thereto, the depending portion of each plate having an opening therein through which one of said support elements projects, and each of said identification plates having indicia on the upper surface thereof and being readily removable from the support member.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for locking said post in an adjustable position comprises a locking lever pivotally mounted on said upstanding post and being frictionally engageable with said second post.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member has a plurality of spaced-apart recesses in the upper surface thereof, each being disposed in registering relation with respect to an opening in said support plate member whereby elongate instruments will have one end portion received in a recess in the baseplate member and have the other end portion projecting through the associated or registering opening in the support plate member. 

1. A device for supporting a plurality of medical instruments comprises a substantially flat circular baseplate member, an upstanding post on said base at the center thereof and projecting upwardly and axially therefrom, a substantially flat circular support plate member being of substantially the same size as said base, said support member having a plurality of symmetrical openings therein spaced inwardly from the circumferential edge thereof, and axis of each opening being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said support member, each opening accommodating an end portion of an instrument therethrough, the other end portion of the instrument being positioned upon the baseplate, a centrally located second post fixedly connected with said support member and extending axially in opposite directions therefrom, the upper end of said second post projecting substantially beyond said support member and defining a handle, one end portion of one of said posts having an elongate hollow bore therein of circular configuration, one end portion of the other post being telescopically received in said bore and being circular in cross-sectional configuration to permit relative rotation and vertical adjustment between said posts, means on one of said posts releasably engaging the other of said posts to permit posts to be releasably locked in an adjusted position, a plurality of outwardly projecting circumferentially spacedapart similar supporting elements secured to the circumferential edge of said support member throughout the periphery thereof and each adapted to support an apertured instrument blade therefrom, the cross-sectional size of each of said support plate and baseplate members having a crosssectional size and a vertical spacing therebetween whereby the entire devIce may be positioned within a conventional sterilizing container containing a sterilizing fluid so that apertured instrument blades on the supporting elements and instruments projecting through the openings in the support member will be sterilized, each of said supporting elements projecting outwardly and upwardly from the support plate member, a plurality of identification plates positioned upon the support member and each including a depending portion depending therefrom in right angular relation thereto, the depending portion of each plate having an opening therein through which one of said support elements projects, and each of said identification plates having indicia on the upper surface thereof and being readily removable from the support member.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for locking said post in an adjustable position comprises a locking lever pivotally mounted on said upstanding post and being frictionally engageable with said second post.
 3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member has a plurality of spaced-apart recesses in the upper surface thereof, each being disposed in registering relation with respect to an opening in said support plate member whereby elongate instruments will have one end portion received in a recess in the baseplate member and have the other end portion projecting through the associated or registering opening in the support plate member. 